medley

1 of 2

noun

med·​ley ˈmed-lē How to pronounce medley (audio)
plural medleys
1
: a musical composition made up of a series of songs or short pieces
a medley of show tunes
2
: a diverse assortment or mixture
especially : hodgepodge
a medley of sounds
a medley of desserts
was arrested on a medley of charges
3
archaic : melee

medley

2 of 2

adjective

Examples of medley in a Sentence

Noun a medley of show tunes a medley of snack foods available on the buffet table
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The show was also intentional about embracing younger artists blazing new trails in the industry — from a medley with up-and-coming urban artists Eladio Carrión, Quevedo, Myke Towers, to a Spanglish performance by Joe Jonas and Ela Taubert, who is nominated for best new artist. Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024 For example, roasted turnips turned up in the second course, among a medley of root vegetables. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Nonetheless, to make up for the lack of depth this Olympic season, the team showcased stellar performances in the medley events. Paras J. Haji, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 Watch Megan Thee Stallion’s medley performance below. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for medley 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English medle, from Anglo-French medlee, from feminine of medlé, past participle of medler to mix — more at meddle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of medley was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near medley

Cite this Entry

“Medley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medley. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

medley

noun
med·​ley
ˈmed-lē
plural medleys
1
: mixture sense 2
especially : a confused mixture
2
: a musical composition made up of a series of songs or short musical pieces

More from Merriam-Webster on medley

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!